diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index c7734e4d6..673980d13 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -87,6 +87,9 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ### Changed
 
+- `PipelineTask` now waits for `StartFrame` to reach the end of the pipeline
+  before pushing any other frames.
+
 - Updated `CartesiaTTSService` and `CartesiaHttpTTSService` to align with
   Cartesia's changes for the `speed` parameter. It now takes only an enum of
   `slow`, `normal`, or `fast`.
@@ -100,6 +103,9 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ### Fixed
 
+- Fixed an RTVI issue that was causing frames to be pushed before pipeline was
+  properly initialized.
+
 - Fixed some `get_messages_for_logging()` that were returning a JSON string
   instead of a list.
 
diff --git a/src/pipecat/pipeline/task.py b/src/pipecat/pipeline/task.py
index 5500dba62..23b8c5cc2 100644
--- a/src/pipecat/pipeline/task.py
+++ b/src/pipecat/pipeline/task.py
@@ -236,8 +236,13 @@ class PipelineTask(BasePipelineTask):
         # idle.
         self._idle_queue = asyncio.Queue()
         self._idle_monitor_task: Optional[asyncio.Task] = None
+
+        # This event is used to indicate the StartFrame has been received at the
+        # end of the pipeline.
+        self._pipeline_start_event = asyncio.Event()
+
         # This event is used to indicate a finalize frame (e.g. EndFrame,
-        # StopFrame) has been received in the down queue.
+        # StopFrame) has been received at the end of the pipeline.
         self._pipeline_end_event = asyncio.Event()
 
         # This is the final pipeline. It is composed of a source processor,
@@ -516,8 +521,15 @@ class PipelineTask(BasePipelineTask):
             data.append(ProcessingMetricsData(processor=p.name, value=0.0))
         return MetricsFrame(data=data)
 
+    async def _wait_for_pipeline_start(self, frame: Frame):
+        """Wait for the specified start frame to reach the end of the pipeline."""
+        logger.debug(f"{self}: Starting. Waiting for {frame} to reach the end of the pipeline...")
+        await self._pipeline_start_event.wait()
+        self._pipeline_start_event.clear()
+        logger.debug(f"{self}: {frame} reached the end of the pipeline, pipeline is now ready.")
+
     async def _wait_for_pipeline_end(self, frame: Frame):
-        """Wait for the pipeline to signal completion."""
+        """Wait for the specified frame to reach the end of the pipeline."""
 
         async def wait_for_cancel():
             try:
@@ -532,13 +544,13 @@ class PipelineTask(BasePipelineTask):
             finally:
                 await self._call_event_handler("on_pipeline_cancelled", frame)
 
-        logger.debug(f"{self}: waiting for {frame} to reach the end of the pipeline...")
+        logger.debug(f"{self}: Closing. Waiting for {frame} to reach the end of the pipeline...")
 
         if isinstance(frame, CancelFrame):
             await wait_for_cancel()
         else:
             await self._pipeline_end_event.wait()
-            logger.debug(f"{self}: {frame} reached the end of the pipeline.")
+            logger.debug(f"{self}: {frame} reached the end of the pipeline, pipeline is closing.")
 
         self._pipeline_end_event.clear()
 
@@ -591,6 +603,9 @@ class PipelineTask(BasePipelineTask):
         start_frame.metadata = self._params.start_metadata
         await self._pipeline.queue_frame(start_frame)
 
+        # Wait for the pipeline to be started before pushing any other frame.
+        await self._wait_for_pipeline_start(start_frame)
+
         if self._params.enable_metrics and self._params.send_initial_empty_metrics:
             await self._pipeline.queue_frame(self._initial_metrics_frame())
 
@@ -657,6 +672,8 @@ class PipelineTask(BasePipelineTask):
             # Start heartbeat tasks now that StartFrame has been processed
             # by all processors in the pipeline
             self._maybe_start_heartbeat_tasks()
+
+            self._pipeline_start_event.set()
         elif isinstance(frame, EndFrame):
             await self._call_event_handler("on_pipeline_ended", frame)
             self._pipeline_end_event.set()